Advent day 19... why do we put tangerines in stockings? 

See advent day 18 here

Saint Nicholas who is now known as Father Christmas was a very generous man hence why he later become immortalised as Santa. One Christmas when St Nick found out a poor man couldn't afford the dowry for his daughters to be married he put three balls of gold down their chimney which landed in the daughters stockings which were drying on the fireplace. To honour St. Nicks' noble deed people started putting tangerines in stockings to represent the gold balls. 

During the Great depression in America many couldn't afford real presents so they gifted fruits and candies instead. Receiving a tangerines in your stocking would have been a real treat, with fresh fruit being a luxury for many. 

For people in colder climates in America tangerines were seen as an exotic present. A child receiving a tangerine that came from somewhere far away which they'd never had before (or only had on Christmas) was a real excitement and a great gift. 

I personally always receive a tangerine in my stocking but many have done away with the tradition which I think is really sad. I think it's always good to be humble and remember in the past tangerines were an exciting gift for many - Christmas has become too commercialised and a lot of the magic has been lost so it's important to keep small traditions alive. 

Will you be putting a tangerine in the stocking this year? 

Comment below! 

Rosie x